Toward cumulative effects assessment and management in the Athabasca watershed, Alberta, Canada

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

NOBLE, B.F.

Dept. of Geography and Planning and School of the Environment and Sustainability, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

SWARUK, J.S.

Dept. of Geography and Planning, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

PATRICK, R.J.

Dept. of Geography and Planning and School of the Environment and Sustainability, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

Description :
This article examines watershed cumulative effects assessment and management (CEAM) in the Athabasca watershed, Alberta, Canada, based on the presence of a lead agency; enabling legislation; financial and human resources; data management and coordination; multi-scaled monitoring; CEAM baselines, indicators, and thresholds; multi-stakeholder collaboration; and vertical and horizontal linkages. Results show that while there was broad agreement amongst participants concerning the necessity for these requisites, there is also considerable uncertainty respecting these requisite performances in this watershed. Participants noted a lack of willingness to share data to support CEAM, especially spatial data, as well as a lack of confidence in the integrity of water monitoring data. An absence of coordination and leadership for watershed CEAM has contributed to financial, human, and technical capacity limitations as well as power asymmetries respecting multi-stakeholder engagement.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Canadian geographer, issn : 0008-3658, 2014, vol. 58, n°. 3, p. 315-328, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Canada, Toronto, ON, Canadian Association of Geographers

Langue :
Anglais